Chapter 104

• The wedding reception was in full swing, the lavish hall awash with warm lights and soft music. Guests laughed, clinked their glasses, and danced, their energy filling the room with a joyous hum. Samuel stood near the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey as he observed the festivities. His suit fit him perfectly, but he looked slightly out of place, his posture stiff as he scanned the crowd.
• Then, he saw her.
• Caroline was seated at a table on the far side of the room with the other bridesmaids, her head tilted as she laughed at something one of her tablemates had said. She looked stunning in the sleek emerald-green dress that hugged her curves, her dark hair swept into an elegant updo. She hadn’t noticed him yet, and he wasn’t sure if that was a blessing or a curse.